New York Mets pitcher Brian Lawrence walks to the dugout after being taken out in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium, Monday, Sept. 17, 2007 in Washington.... (Associated Press)

(Newser)
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The Mets muddled through their fifth-straight error-plagued game last night, dropping 12-4 to the Nationals and watching their lead in the NL East division race dwindle to 2 1/2 games. The team with the best record in the National League—for now, at least—continued to play extremely sloppy baseball, reports the New York Daily News.

Brian Lawrence, starting in place of injured Mets ace Orlando Hernandez, gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings to negate the lead gained by Carlos Beltran and Shawn Green's home runs. Meanwhile, fielding errors by David Wright and Jose Reyes combined with mis-aimed throws by Scott Schoeneweis and Ramon Castro to sink New York in the series opener.